Reports of Algal Blooms

Each of the lakes/ponds in the tables below had an algal bloom that reduced the transparency (Secchi Disk Transparency) to less than 2 meters. These blooms have been confirmed by DEP staff or a trained volunteer.

Transparency is measured by using a Secchi Disk and a water scope. The Secchi disk is about 8 inches in diameter and painted black and white. The disk is lowered into the lake with a measured line. A water scope is used to cut down on the glare of the sun and wave action. The distance that the disk disappears from view is measured. Alga growing in the lake will reduce the depth to which the disk can be seen. Lakes with a Secchi disk reading of less than 2 meters caused by alga are considered impaired. The lake is still considered safe to swim in, but you might not want to.

Picture of someone observing a secchi disk.

Year 2009

DATE OF REPORT	LAKE NAME	MIDAS NUMBER	TOWN OR CITY	SECCHI READING	COMMENTS/NOTES
8/6/09	Threemile Pond	5416	Vassalboro	1.44	Blooms every year
9/1/09	Unity Pond	5172	`	1.3	Blooms every year, worse than usual this year
7/19/09	Paradise Pond	5708	Damariscotta	1.85	Occasionally blooms
8/14/09	Sebasticook L	2264	Newport	1.60	Frequently blooms
8/12/09	Sewall Pond	9943	Arrowsic	1.3	Blooms every year
8/12/09	China Lake	5448	China	1.65	Blooms every year
8/18/09	Lovejoy Pond	5776	Albion	1.50	Blooms every year
8/25/09	Sabattus Pond	3796	Sabattus	1.5	Blooms every year
9/1/09	Clary Lake	5382	Jefferson	1.68	First bloom ever
8/24/09	Hermon Pond	2286	Hermon	1.9	Blooms every year
8/27/09	Cochnewagon Pond	3814	Monmouth	1.9	Bloomed last couple of years
8/18/09	Lovejoy Pond	5176	Albion	1.5	Blooms every year

Year 2008

Summary: A total of 12 lakes had documented blooms in 2008. This number is lower than usual. The cool spring and wet weather seemed to keep the algae down until later in the season except for Sabattus Pond and Lovejoy Pond.

DATE OF REPORT	LAKE NAME	MIDAS NUMBER	TOWN OR CITY	SECCHI READING	COMMENTS/NOTES
6/30/08	Threemile Pond	5416	Vassalboro	1.45	Blooms every year
6/20/08	Lovejoy Pond	5176	Abion	1.30	Blooms every year
7/17/08	Webber Pond	5408	Vassalboro	1.50	Blooms every year
8/14/08	Unity Pond	5172	Unity	1.30	Blooms every year
8/12/08	Paradise Pond	5708	Damrascotta	1.52	First reported bloom
8/22/08	Sewall Pond	9943	Arrowsic	1.60	Blooms every year
9/10/08	Togus Pond	9931	Augusta	1.50	Blooms once every 3-5 years
8/24/08	Sabattus Pond	3796	Sabattus	0.50	Blooms every year
9/3/08	Pleasant Pond	5254	Richmond	1.70	Blooms every year
9/4/08	China Lake	5448	China	1.85	Blooms every year
9/12/08	Sebasticook L	2264	Newport	1.9	Frequently blooms
9/24/08	Cochnewagon	3814	Monmouth	1.95	Bloomed last 3 years

Year 2007

Summary: A total of 11 lakes had documented bloom in 2007. This number is lower than usual. The cool spring and wet weather seemed to keep the algae down. Even lakes that bloom every year had the blooms occur later in the season than normal.

DATE OF REPORT	LAKE NAME	MIDAS NUMBER	TOWN OR CITY	SECCHI READING	COMMENTS/NOTES
8/10/07	Sebasticook Lake	2264	Newport	1.70	Frequently blooms
9/20/07	Cochnewagon lake	3814	Monmouth	1.75	Bloom in 06 and 07. Last bloomed in 1985
8/15/07	North and Little	5344	Smithfield	1.81	Seldom blooms
7/14/07	Unity Pond	5172	Unity	1.2	Blooms every year
8/3/07	Sabattus Pond	3796	Sabattus	1.0	Blooms every year
9/2/07	East Pond	5349	Oakland	1.0	Frequently blooms late in summer.
8/12/07	Threemile Pond	5416	Vassalboro	1.0	Blooms every year
9/10/07	Cross Lake	1674	T17 R5	1.9	Seldom blooms
8/13/07	Long Lake	1682	St. Agathe	1.8	Seldom blooms
10/1/07	Duckpuddle Pond	5702	Waldoboro	1.87	Frequent blooms
9/6/07	Toothaker Pond	2336	Phillips	1.79	Blooms every year

Year 2006

Summary: A total of 14 lakes bloomed in 2006. The blooms started in late July and continued into the fall. Other lakes that bloomed that are not reported in the table include Daigle Pond in New Canada, Clark Cove in South Bristol, East Pond in Smithfield, Pleasant Pond in Richmond, Pleasant Hill Pond in Scarboro, and Sewall Pond in Arrowsic.

DATE OF REPORT	LAKE NAME	MIDAS NUMBER	TOWN	SECCHI READING	COMMENT/NOTES
6/12/2006	Lovejoy Pond	5176	Abion	1..4	Blooms every year
7/9/06	North Pond	5344	Rome	1.85	Rarely blooms. Last time 1998
7/4/06	Threemile Pond	5416	China	<1.7	Blooms every year
7/12/06	Sabattus Pond	3796	Sabattus	1.6	Blooms every year
7/31/06	Sebasticook Lake	2264	Newport	1.95	Frequently blooms
8/14/06	Webber Pond	5408	Vassaboro	1.67	Blooms every year
8/13/06	China Lake	5448	China	<2.0	Blooms every year
8/30/06	Cochnewagon Lake	3814	Monmouth	1.60	Hasn't bloomed since 1985

Year 2005

Summary: A total of 16 lakes had algal blooms in 2005. The blooms tended to start later in the summer than previous years. This may be attributed to the cool, rainy spring that occurred in 2005. Other lakes that bloomed that are not reported in the table include Arnold Brook Lake in Presque Isle, Clark Cove in South Bristol, Daigle Pond in New Canada, Hammond Pond in Hampden, Hermon Pond in Hermon, Jerry Pond in T5 R7 WELS, Leigh's Mill Pond in South Berwick, Sewall Pond in Arrowsic, and Trafton Lake in Limestone.

DATE OF REPORT	LAKE NAME	MIDAS NUMBER	TOWN	SECCHI READING	COMMENT/NOTE
7/20/2005	Sabattus Pond	3796	Sabattus	1.78	Blooms every year
7/22/2005	Webber Pond	5408	Vassalboro	1.78	Blooms every year
7/26/2005	Duckpuddle Pond	5702	Nobleboro	1.15	Frequently bloom
7/28/2005	Threemile Pond	5416	Vassalboro	0.95	Blooms every year
8/16/2005	Unity Pond	4172	Unity	1.23	Frequently blooms
8/10/2005	China Lake	5448	China	1.55	Blooms every year
9/18/2005	East Pond	5349	Smithfield	0.50	Frequently blooms

Year 2004

Summary: A total of 21 lakes had algal blooms in 2003. Other lakes that had documented blooms not included in the table below are Leighs's Mills Pond, Graham Lake, China Lake, Threemile Pond, Cross Lake, Madawaska Lake, Fischer Lake, Hermon Pond, Hammand Pond, Kidder Pond, Pleasant Pond (Richmond), and Unity Pond. All of these lakes have known water quality issues. Fewer lakes bloomed in 2004, then previous years. The summer of 2004 was cooler and this may have resulted in less algae growth.

DATE OF REPORT	LAKE NAME	MIDAS NUMBER	TOWN	SECCHI READING	COMMENTS/NOTES
6/21/04	Sewall Pond	9943	Arrowsick	1.24	frequently blooms
6/30/04	Lovejoy Pond	5176	Albion	1.92	blooms every year
7/29/04	Togus Pond	9931	Augusta	1.5	frequently blooms
8/4/04	Trafton Lake	9779	Limestone	1.1	blooms every year
8/16/04	Sabattus Pond	3796	Sabattus	1.9	blooms every year
8/17/04	Jerry Pond	2190	T 5 R 7	0.5	blooms every year
8/19/04	Sebasticook L	2264	Newport	1.9	blooms every year
8/28/04	East Pond	5349	Smithfield	< 2.0	frequently blooms
8/3/04	Webber Pond	5408	Vassalboro	1.9	blooms every year

Year 2003

Summary: A total of 25 lakes had algal blooms in 2003. Other lakes That had documented blooms not included in the table below are Leighs's Mills Pond, Sabattus Pond, Graham Lake, Pease Pond, Salmon Lake, Webber Pond, China Lake, Little Cobbossee Lake and Sewall Pond. All of these lakes, except Pease Pond, have known water quality issues.

DATE OF REPORT	LAKE NAME	MIDAS NUMBER	TOWN	SECCHI READING	COMMENTS/NOTES
8/06/03	Sebasticook Lake	2264	Newport	1.95	Blooms every year
8/06/03	East Pond	5349	Oakland	< 2.0	Frequently blooms
8/7/03	Threemile Pond	5416	Vassalboro	1.82	Frequently blooms
8/13/03	Toothaker Pond	2236	Phillips	0.98	Frequently blooms Bloom worse this year
8/14/03	Togus Pond	9931	Augusta	1.99	Blooms occasionally
8/14/03	Webber Pond	5408	Vassalboro	1.80	Blooms every year
8/15/03	Jerry Pond	2190	T5 R7	1.32	Bloomed last couple of years
8/16/03	Lovejoy Pond	5176	Albion	1.26	Blooms every year
8/18/03	Unity Pond	5172	Unity	1.65	Blooms every year
8/19/03	Hermon pond	2286	Hermon	0.88	Frequently blooms. Bloom worse this year
8/19/03	Hammond Pond	2294	Hampden	1.74	Frequently blooms
8/24/03	Daigle Pond	1665	New Canada	1.20	Blooms every year
8/25/03	Arnold Brook Pond	409	Presque Isle	0.95	Blooms every year
8/25/03	Trafton Pond	9779	Limestone	1.22	Blooms every year
9/10/03	Threecorner Pond	5424	Augusta	< 2.0	Worse bloom in years

Year 2002

Summary: A total of 23 lakes had algal blooms in 2002. Abrams Pond in Eastbrook and Pease Pond in Wilton bloomed for the very first time. Other lakes that had documented blooms not included in the table below are Alewife Pond, Cross Lake, East Pond, Garland Pond, Graham Lake, Hermon pond, Sabattus Pond, Salmon Lake, Sewall Pond, Lower Togus Pond, and Wizard Lake. The summer of 2002 was a dry, hot, long summer which may have contributed to the higher number of lakes that bloomed in 2002.

DATE OF REPORT	LAKENAME	MIDAS NUMBER	TOWN	SECCHI READING	COMMENTS/NOTES
5/22/02	Toothacher Pond	2336	Phillips	1.7	Frequently blooms, additional monitoring taking place this year.
7/17/02	Christina Lake	9525	Ft.Fairfield	<1.0	Blooms every year
7/17/02	Trafton Lake	9779	Limstone	1.15	Frequently blooms.
7/17/02	Arnold Brook Lake	409	Presque Isle	< 2.0	Blooms every year
7/9/02	Lovejoy Pond	5176	Albion	< 2.0	Blooms every year
7/8/02	Sebasticook Lake	2264	Newport	<2.0	Blooms every year
7/15/02	Unity Pond	5172	Unity	1.50	Frequently blooms Currently TMDL study ongoing
8/2/02	Threemile Pond	5416	Vassalboro	1.2	Blooms every year
7/31/02	Webber Pond	5408	Vassalboro	1.0	Blooms every year
8/7/02	China Lake	5448	China	1.9	Blooms every year
9/09/02	Abrams Pond	4444	Eastbrook	< 2.0	First time below 2.0 meters
10/1/02	Pease Pond	5198	Wilton	<2.0	First time below 2.0 meters

Year 2001

Summary: Sixteen lakes and ponds had documented algae blooms in the year 2001. In addition to the lakes in the table below, China Lake in China, Estes Lake Sanford, Cross Lake Eagle Lake, North Pond Norway, Trafton Lake Ft. Fairfield, had documented algae blooms. All of these lakes have had algae blooms in the past. The year 2001 was a dry year. Many lakes had the deepest Secchi disk readings ever taken. However, these sixteen lakes had algae blooms.

DATE OF REPORT	LAKENAME	MIDAS NUMBER	TOWN	SECCHI READING	COMMENTS/NOTES
May 30	Sabattus Pond	3796	Greene	1.5	very early and alga very clumpy
July 2	Unity Pond	5172	Unity	1.9	early for bloom
July 19	Toothaker Pond	2336	Phillips	1.6	experimental Barely Straw application in progress.
July 20	Sebasticook L.	2264	Newport	1.75	Blooms every year
July 10	Lovejoy Pd	5176	Albion	<2.0	very dense bloom, also fish kill mostly hornpout due to poor water quality
July 11 Aug 23	Monson Pd	1820	Ft. Fairfield	1.20 1.60	blooms every year
July 11 Aug 23	Arnold Brook Lake	409	Presque Isle	0.8 1.1	very intense bloom, blooms every year
July 11 Aug 23	Christina Lake	9525	Ft. Fairfield	0.95 0.40	very intense bloom, blooms every year
Aug 1	Webber Pond	5408	Vassalboro	1.80	blooms every year
Aug 1	Threemile Pond	5416	Vassalboro	1.70	blooms every year
Aug 22	Leigh's Mills Pond	117	S. Berwick	1.65	Frequently blooms
Aug 21	Pleasant Pond	5254	Richmond	1.6	blooms every year

Year 2000

Summary: Only 12 lakes and ponds had documented algae blooms in the year 2000. In addition to the lakes in the table below, China Lake in China, Lovejoy Pond in Albion, and Madawaska Lake in T16 R4 WELS had documented algae blooms. All of these lakes have had algae blooms in the past. The year 2000 had fewer lakes that bloomed and usually the blooms were less severe than in 1999. This is attributed to the cool summer of 1999.

DATE OF REPORT	LAKENAME	MIDAS NUMBER	TOWN	SECCHI READING	COMMENTS/NOTES
7/21/00	UNITY POND	5172	UNITY	1.50	FREQUENTLY BLOOMS
7/26/00	SEBASTICOOK LAKE	2264	NEWPORT	1.00	BLOOMS ALMOST EVERY YEAR
7/18/00	ECHO LAKE	1776	PRESQUE ISLE	1.60	BLOOMS EVERY YEAR
7/31/00	MONSON POND	1820	FT. FAIRFIELD	1.60	FREQUENTLY BLOOMS
7/31/00	ARNOLD BROOK	0409	PRESQUE ISLE	0.90	MANMADE POND
7/18/00	LAKE CHRISTINA	.	FORT FAIRFIELD	0.40	MANMADE POND
8/4/00	SABATTUS POND	3796	SABATTUS	1.99	BLOOMS EVERY YEAR
8/4/00	WEBBER POND	5408	VASSALBORO	1.00	BLOOMS EVERY YEAR
8/16/00	PLEASANT POND	5254	RICHMOND	1.95	BLOOMS EVERY YEAR

Lake MONITORING & ASSESSMENT